Children of a raven (D3, EN, Shai's)

[Sylvain Torsin]

He nodded, "We can only hope that she is up to the task with Baras... I would hate to lose my mother that I just barely met."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"Well, to be fair, we know very little of what she is capable of, other than flying under the radar, causing chaos, and attempting to take out Arlena Serasai." As much as she wanted to think Raven was up for the task, there was a lot of unknown factors to consider.

[Sylvain Torsin]

He nodded, "She has been his apprentice for many years and Baras mentioned that he has already compromised many of his plans... We can only hope there's something she holds that will lead to her victory."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"Still... we might need to committ fully to this. Baras is a slippery customer. While he has gotten this far with manipulation and charm, we've no idea how skilled he might be at defending himself."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain replied, "He is quite proficient. With a blade and with the force. Magpie is confident her training from him has been sufficient..."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"Hm... I was unaware of his skill with a lightsaber. Well then... a grenade to the face can do the trick. At least it did today in the Kaggath. Plenty of ways to catch Force users unawares," she suggested.

"Ugh... I would prefer not to fight that battle myself. Probably only increases chances of a Layne-appearance."

[Sylvain Torsin]

"I tried to help her see how Baras is a terrible master for her... but she's Layne... so who knows what the fuck she's thinking?" He replied. He had a decent idea... but for some reason it felt wrong to talk too much about the drunk girl's tirade and conundrum.

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"Yeah, that's one way to sum it up. Just be careful with her and don't betray too much to her... she's a loose cannon, and could easily side with Baras against you just for her own pitiful hide. Wouldn't surprise me if she still thought she was the biggest victim to walk this galaxy." In so many ways, still a slave in her mind.

"Well, I think we've covered the options you have before you now. I trust tomorrow will be a busy day for you, appealing to potential allies. Again, Vowrawn might be a support, maybe not... he might suspect you of plotting on behalf of Baras, but I think it's worth for you to at least try with some of the powerful Sith who are opposed to Baras. As well as Haydriss."

[Sylvain Torsin]

He nodded, "I will see what can be done. I wish I had more time... but we cannot always choose the battles we elect to fight. I'm glad I have your support, even if this is to be my end... I think it's one I'm willing to face."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"Don't throw your life away over it. If it turns bad, escape... save yourself." Her voice was firm on that subject.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"To where Shai?" He asked.

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"The Outer Rim, Hutt space... even the Republic, if you must. It's better than dying, achieving nothing."

[Sylvain Torsin]

He chuckled through his nose, "The Republic? You kid... you remember who I am right?"

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"If it keeps you alive," she kept her voice firm, not even smiling. "Not saying that you should swear loyalty to the Republic, or the Jedi for that matter. Just that it is a place where it will be more difficult for Baras to reach you."

[Sylvain Torsin]

He chuckled, "Run from the Empire... Run from you..."

A thought crossed his mind and showed up as anguish and anger on his face.

"Run from Kris..."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"I would be fine knowing you were alive. I... I've become more accepting of the distance between me and the ones I care about the past months," she admitted with some hesitation.

"Don't know what Kris would say though."

[Sylvain Torsin]

He shook his head, "I can't imagine that going well..."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"That's something you should talk to her about, if you want to consider my advice of saving yourself."

In the end, she couldn't tell Sylvain what to do. It all had to be his choice. His chains to break and his victory to seize.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"I don't know if I could do that myself..." He said as his mind started to think upon the possibilities.

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"Do what? Save yourself or talk to Kris about it?" she looked straight at him.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"Save myself... What kind of life is that? To live as a coward and failure..." He replied.

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"It's called live to fight another day. What point is there in dying without achieving anything?!" Shaisha grew a little more agitated, frustrated at Syl's want to die in the attempt.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"And end up paranoid and bitter like Kristal's mother..." He said.

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"At least she knows she gained nothing by staying and dying at the hands of Magpie."

Shaisha's fist clenched.

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain could feel her anger and saw her fist clench. Shaisha had never fully been able to help pull him out of a spell whenever he fell into a bit of depression, and it appeared now was not any different. He realized he could keep at it and have her yell at him like she did on Korriban so often... but he wasn't in the mood for a lecture.

"The long and short of it is... if I commit myself, we cannot fail. The end result is not one any of us want..."